Method of learning or improving the tennis serve

ABSTRACT

A device for use in learning, practising, and perfecting a tennis serve comprising a flexible, substantially non-elastic tether and a weighted end portion is described. The tether is grasped at one end and swung forward using the motion associated with the exaggerated throwing of a baseball. The weighted end of the device forces the smooth, continuous follow-through motion required in a tennis serve.

O United States Patent [151 3,653,660

Malhas [451 Apr. 4, 1972 54] METHOD OF LEARNING 0R 2,305,187 12/1942Heiden ..273/29 A IMPROVING THE TENNIS SERVE 3,330,560 7/1967 Higdon..272/67 X [72] Inventor: Farouk S. Malhas, Washington, DC. PrimaryExaminer-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Theatrice Brown [73]Assignee: Tennis Promotlon, Inc., Washington, DC. Atmmey Raymond R deMember [22] Filed: Mar. 17, 1970 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 20,332

A device for use In learning, practising, and perfecting a tennis servecomprising a flexible, substantially non-elastic tether [52] US. Cl..273/29 A, 150/52 A and a weighted end portion is described. The tetheris grasped [5|] Int.Cl. ..A63b 69/38 at one end and swung forward usingthe motion associated [58] Field of Search ..273/29; 150/1 1, 42, 52 A;with the exaggerated throwing of a baseball. The weighted end 272/67 ofthe device forces the smooth, continuous follow-through motion requiredin a tennis serve. [56] References Cited 3 Claims, 10 Drawing FiguresUNITED STATES PATENTS 3,428,325 2/l969 Atkinson ..273/73 R X PATENTEDAPR4 I972 SHEET 1 OF 2 nvvavrae,

PATENTEDAPR 4 I972 SHEET 2 or 2 yudm 0154mm 02,0004

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FIELD OF INVENTION AND BACKGROUND This invention relates to a device foruse in learning, practising, and perfecting the tennis serve. Moreparticularly, the invention embraces a device comprising a flexiblenon-elastic tether and a weighted end. In use, the device is swungutilizing the motion associated with the exaggerated throwing of abaseball. The weight at the end of the tether forces the smooth,continuous follow-through motion required in a tennis serve.

Tennis is a game which requires fluidity of motion and an easy, simple,and a rhythmic swing that flows through all strokes of the game. Thesecharacteristics are especially important in the tennis serve. Theservice, therefore, must be natural, easygoing, smooth, accurate,steady, and simple. Since it is the opening stroke of every point, itdetermines whether the server is going to be in a commanding or adefending position. In an average tennis match, approximately 50 percentof all points are won by the serve. It is important that a beginner totennis gain confidence. For complete confidence, it is necessary thatthe beginner have confidence in his serve.

Numerous books and articles are available directed to learning,practising, and perfecting ones tennis game. Uniformly, these books andarticles recognize the above noted requirements of the serve and thatthe serve is the most difficult part of the tennis game for a beginnerto learn and for advanced players to master. It has been said that whilemost good" amateur players can hit an adequate forehand and backhand,and volley reasonably well, the disparity between their serve and thatof the professional player is major. Notoriously, amateurs will hittheir first serve with all their might into the net; they will then berequired, to avoid a double fault, to dish-up a soft second serve thatanyone can handle. This loses points and undermines the confidence ofthe player, further destroying the effectiveness of his game.

Although the difficult of the serve is uniformly recognized by tennisinstructors, no effective, simple method has been devised to permit thebeginner and amateur to learn and master the serve.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a primary object of thepresent invention to provide a method of using a device which is simplein construction which can be used by both amateur and professional tolearn and perfect the tennis serve.

It is another object of this invention to provide a method of using adevice which is simple in construction and which will permit a player tolimber and exercise his tennis arm.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a method whichis easily understood and developed for teaching the tennis serve to thebeginning player.

It is another object of this invention to provide an exercise which willenhance coordination, rhythm, and freedom of smooth movement, withemphasis on continuity, required for the tennis serve.

These and other objects of the invention will be readily apparent fromthe following description, with emphasis being directed to the drawing.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the objects of thisinvention are accomplished by constructing a device having a flexibletether looped at one end for receiving the wrist of the user. A weightedportion such as a pouch or sack large enough for receiving a pluralityof tennis balls is at the other end. The length of the tether and endportion is the length of, or substantially the length of, a tennisracket, The tennis player will grasp the tether in the hand used tograsp his tennis racket and, standing in a tennis stance, will serve"with the device using the motion used to throw a baseball. The pull ofthe device due to the weighted end forces the users motion into a fullextension of his arm. Repeated swings with the device, using precautionsto ensure a complete followl-through, will give the user the fluidity ofmotion necessary to obtain the natural, easygoing, smooth, accurate,steady, and simple swing needed in the tennis serve.

Although it is recommended that the beginner utilize only one deviceaccording to this invention, referred to at times hereinafter as theSERV-SAK, applicants trade name, after the initial motion is masteredmore than one device can be utilized to provide improved coordination,timing, and rhythm. t

The SERV-SAK device of the present invention will be more readilyapparent from the accompanying drawing wherein like numerals areemployed to designate like parts, and wherein FIG. 1 is a perspectiveview of the device according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view illustrating the end portion partly cut awayand open; and

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the drill according to thepresent invention DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND DRAWING Referring to FIGS. 1and 2 of the drawing, reference numeral 10 is directed to the completedevice. The weighted end 30, according to the preferred embodiment ofthe drawing, comprises a pouch-like bag or sack having a containerportion 33 and a top portion 31 openably connected by zipper means 34.As seen through the partially cut-away section, a plurality of balls 35are contained within the pouch to provide weight. The pouch shown willaccommodate three balls. The number of balls inserted in the pouch willdepend upon the user and the amount of weight needed which will bedetermined by the users strength and power. If more weight is desired,balls having a greater density than tennis balls, such as baseballs orthe like, can be used in place of tennis balls, or a can containingtennis balls can be inserted into the pouch. Tether 20 comprises alooped end into which the user will place his wrist and hand. As shownmore clearly in FIG. 2, the tether can be made longer or shorter, e.g.,if a player accustomed to a junior racket is practicing, by pulling itdown into the cover portion of the pouch and releasing clip 26' fromretaining ring 27, pushing the clip 26'to the desired position and againsliding ring 27 into engagement with the clip.

As apparent from the drawing, the device of the invention is extremelysimple. The pouch portion is preferably fabricated from a soft leather,plastic, or cloth, with the tether preferably being a flexible material,but a material which is substantially non-elastic. Leather or a nylon orcotton line are preferred. When a plurality of the devices are used atthe same time, the devices can be held in operable association bysliding the looped end of the tether through retaining ring 22 which ispreferably made of an elastic material such as rubber or elasticplastic. This ring will hold the ends of the three units in workingrelationship. For the beginner, it may be desirable to slide theretaining ring toward the weighted end of the bags to enable the noviceto feel the motion of the serve in a simplified manner. As the serverbecomes more confident, the retainer ring may be raised to the top.Maximum coordination and rhythm, as will be developed more fully, arerequired to keep the plurality of devices swinging in unison withoutseparation when the washer is pulled up to the top.

Practice with the SERV-SAK of the type illustrated in the drawing willprovide the rhythmic swing needed for the tennis serve which, inessence, is a chain reaction in which the body, arm, shoulder, and elbowmust move with a smooth, coordinated rhythm. The movement must progressas the server transfers his weight from the ball of the left foot ontothe toes when he reaches up to hit the ball. The climax of the wind-upcomes as a blast at the point of impact when the racket contacts theball. As the weight falls forward, the server regains his balance and isready for the return. The power of the serve is a combination of speed,coordination, and rhythm of action. Drilling with the SERV-SAK of thepresent invention, referred to as the SERV-SAK Method, will enhance thecoordination, rhythm, and freedom of movement needed for the serve.Practice, accelerated by the method, will improve the serve and make ita continuous fluid motion from start to finish. The method enables theserver to relax and ultimately allows his to accomplish the requiredserve motion naturally, building up his confidence in his game. If theuser does not employ the correct motion needed for the tennis serve anddevelop the required follow-through motion, the SERV-SAK-because of itserratic course-will immediately make the beginner aware of the impropermovement. The erratic course of the SERV- SAK device is more pronouncedwhen a plurality of the devices are swung together.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the entire series of steps of the SERV-SAKmethod is illustrated diagrammatically. In FIG. 3 the SERV-SAK device infull lines demonstrates its proper movement, whereas the phantom linesillustrate the erratic course of the device if the improper motion isused. In phase 1, FIG. 3a, the server, with left shoulder toward thenet, stands at ease holding his SERV-SAK as shown and starts to swingbackwards.

Phase 2, FIG. 3b, illustrates the server with knees lightly benttheSERV-SAK starting to pull backward-causing the body to lean back. Theleft arm, in its simulated motion of throwing the tennis ball in theair, has risen well above the head of the server to release the ball. (Nball is used in the drill.)

Phase 3, FIG. 30, illustrates the SERV-SAK starting to loop, pulling theweight of the body forward and upward as in a baseball throw. The sackis preparing to arch downward and away from the body in a wind-upmotion.

Phase 4, FIG. 3d, shows that most of the body weight is forced to shiftby the pull of the SERV-SAK reaching up totally on the left foot. Theknees are straightened out in rhythm with the sak motion, the weight ofwhich has come up from below the wrist, unwinding, moving up for thefull blast action.

Phase 5, FIG. 3e, illustrates the climax of the serve-the fullblast-reached on the toes causing the right leg to pull forward allowingthe body to pivot in a natural follow-through. The SERV-SAK is at fullspeed and the left leg is straightened.

Phase 6, FIG. 3f, shows the complete follow-through, in which theSERV-SAK comes swinging down to its finish on the left side of the body;the server stepping forward with his left foot crossed diagonally toallow movement forward to the net or stay at the base line.

Phase 7, FIG. 3g, illustrates the server starting to followthrough on arepeated, continuous motion, the SERV-SAK being extended beyong phase 6(FIG. 3f) to a leftside loop,

pivoting the whole body to the starting position shown in phase 1.

The phantom lines of FIGS. 3a-g illustrate what will happen to theSERV-SAK in each step if the server does not utilize the propercoordination and rhythm. FIG. 3h illustrates more completely the erraticcourse of the SERV-SAK which will result in the event the server doesnot utilize the correct motion. This erratic motion readily advises theserver that his motion must be corrected if he is to complete themovement. This is not the case when swinging a tennis racket.

The advantages of utilizing the SERV-SAK of the present invention in theperfecting of the tennis serve are readily apparent from thediagrammatic illustration of FIG. 3. Moreover, it will be apparent thatthe device can be useful in therapeutic drills and for developing rhythmand coordination for other sports including baseball, squash, and thelike. Furthermore, it will be readily apparent that the device can bemodified in various ways while still utilizing the principles of thisinvention. Thus, it is possible to modify the SERV-SAK to include ahandle of the type used on a tennis racket to give the user a morecomplete tennis feel Various modifications can be made in the sack orpouch portion. For example, it may be desirable to construct theweighted end as a completed unit.

These features will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art andfall within the scope of the present invention.

It is claimed:

1. The method of learning or improving the tennis serve by a usercomprising the steps of (a) grasping a training device comprising aflexible, substantially non-elastic tether and a weighted end portion,by the tether at the end opposite from said weighted end portion with afirst hand; (b) steadying the device in front of said user by graspingthe device above said weighted end portion with a second hand; (0)dropping the device from said second hand to permit the device, in apendulum-like fashion, to swing freely behind the body of said userwithout contact with said body while simultaneously flexing the kneesslightly to allow arching of the back; (d) bending the elbow to bringthe tethered end of the weighted device and said first hand of said userbehind the head of said user; (e) swinging said hand up and forwardwhile retaining said tethered end in said hand and simultaneouslyshifting the weight of the body forward and pivoting down and forward onthe toe of the forward foot causing the weighted end of said device toswing in an arc; and (f) allowing the deice to freely drop from itshighest arc to the opposite side of the body in a natural follow-throughto permit a repetition of said steps in a continuous natural motion.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a plurality of said devices aresimultaneously utilized by said user.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said plurality includes at least threeof said device.

1. The method of learning or improving the tennis serve by a usercomprising the steps of (a) grasping a training device comprising aflexible, substantially non-elastic tether and a weighted end portion,by the tether at the end opposite from said weighted end portion with afirst hand; (b) steadying the device in front of said user by graspingthe device above said weighted end portion with a second hand; (c)dropping the device from said second hand to permit the device, in apendulum-like fashion, to swing freely behind the body of said userwithout contact with said body while simultaneously flexing the kneesslightly to allow arching of the back; (d) bending the elbow to bringthe tethered end of the weighted device and said first hand of said userbehind the head of said user; (e) swinging said hand up and forwardwhile retaining said tethered end in said hand and simultaneouslyshifting the weight of the body forward and pivoting down and forward onthe toe of the forward foot causing the weighted end of said device toswing in an arc; and (f) allowing the deice to freely drop from itshighest arc to the opposite side of the body in a natural follow-throughto permit a repetition of said steps in a continuous natural motion. 2.The method of claim 1 wherein a plurality of said devices aresimultaneously utilized by said user.
 3. The method of claim 2 whereinsaid plurality includes at least three of said device.